- Boro have conceded just 17 goals in 21 home Championship fixtures this season.
- Sheffield Wednesday have won just 1 of their last 21 away Championship fixtures (D5, L15).
- Morgan Whittaker has 11 goals in 36 Championship appearances for Boro.
Boro need to rediscover their early-season verve
Middlesbrough have a 5-game winless streak to break (D3, L2) if they are to secure their place in the promotion play-offs as they sit 5th, having collected 72 points from 42 games.
Kim Hellberg has a tough job to get the Boro back on track and to the early-season levels of energy and tempo. The hosts can be incredibly flexible, with their wing-backs often providing width and their ability to press and transition quickly giving them an extra edge against opposition that prefer a more possession-based style.
Morgan Whittaker is the main attacking threat for Middlesbrough, a workhorse with 11 goals from 36 appearances in the Championship this term. He will look to provide the final third penetration that Boro need to turn Wednesday’s games into an all-out chase.
Wednesday aim for pride with nothing left to play for
Sheffield Wednesday have nothing but pride left to play for, and even that is in short supply at Hillsborough as the club continue to struggle with off-field turmoil. Henrik Pedersen’s side sit rock bottom of the table in 24th after just -3 points from 43 matches following their hefty points deduction, and their recent form has been woeful.
Wednesday are winless in 5 games (D3, L2) and also have a dreadful away record, without a win in their last 3 away matches (D1, L2). Their attack is blunted at the moment with Charlie McNeill leading the line for Wednesday but managing just 4 goals in 36 league appearances. The Owls have to rely on their experience in midfield, which helps to keep a compact shape, but this doesn’t translate well away from home.
Boro can overpower the visitors
Sheffield Wednesday will likely set up in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation, with their game plan almost always focusing on compactness, control and situational pressing. With a lack of attacking output and lack of tempo, it could be a long night for the visitors.
With odds of 11/100, it’s no surprise that Boro are the clear favourites to take all 3 points here, but there is enough value in their home record (W10, D6, L5) to take them to come out on top against a lacklustre Wednesday outfit.
Boro win at odds of 11/100 is the selection for Wednesday night’s Championship clash, with the main reason for this being both teams poor form, but the hosts have a much better home record and have the firepower to break down the Owls. Wednesday have failed to win their last 2 visits to Boro, and this is one of the biggest fixtures of the season with the play-offs up for grabs for the hosts.
